State Superintendent Martell Menlove gave his State of Education Address on Tuesday at M. Lynn Bennion Elementary in Salt Lake City. Menlove said Utah schools are amazingly successful but also have an ever-present need to improve.

“As Lincoln eloquently said 150 years ago, the great task is remaining before us, and even tonight the task remains before each of us, the task to assure that the opportunity and privileges that we have benefited from because of public education are offered to our children and grandchildren for generations to come.”

Martell Menlove

SALT LAKE CITY — Summarizing his view of the state of public education in Utah, Superintendent Martell Menlove said the school system is "amazingly succesful but with ever-present needs for improvement."

Menlove's remarks came during the annual State of Education Address, held Tuesday at M. Lynn Bennion Elementary School.

The state superintendent remarked that educators should be proud of the return on investment schools deliver to Utah's taxpayers, and he added that Utah's public schools are among the most effective and efficient in the world.

"I believe, personally, that we have a tremendous public education system," Menlove said. "We accomplish more with the limited resources we have than anyone I know of."

He referenced several indicators that show Utah students competing with or leading their peers around the country.

Utah's ACT scores are the highest in the nation when compared with states with 100 percent participation; the state's most recent scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress show Utah making significant gains at shrinking the achievement gap in reading; and data from the College Board, which administers Advanced Placement tests, show Utah students taking and passing AP exams at rates above the national average.

"But all is not well. All is not perfect," Menlove said. "There are things we need to continue to address."

Menlove listed a number of issues that "keep him up at night," including the state's adoption of a new computer adaptive testing system, the ability of schools to find and employ quality teachers in every classroom, and the safety of students in light of recent tragedies at schools nationwide.

On the issue of safety, he said a review of school practices was recently completed, which found the majority of schools doing what is asked of them. But the question now, he said, is whether those requirements are sufficient.

Menlove also spoke of the need for greater literacy and numeracy, helping each student be better prepared for college and careers, as well as improving the state's graduation rate, which is particularly low among minority students.

"That (graduation) rate is something that causes me some concern," he said. "It's an area where we can and must do better, and hopefully we can provide the leadership to cause that to happen."

Menlove bookended his remarks with comments about the American Civil War in recognition of the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address.

"As Lincoln eloquently said 150 years ago, the great task is remaining before us, and even tonight the task remains before each of us," he said, "the task to assure that the opportunity and privileges that we have benefited from because of public education are offered to our children and grandchildren for generations to come."

Tuesday's event was Menlove's first State of Education address after replacing former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Larry Shumway, who retired earlier this year. Menlove previously served as Shumway's deputy state superintendent.

Last year's address focused on the need for lawmakers to reinvest in education. Shumway said that years of expecting schools to "do more with less" had stood in the way of educational progress.

"We cannot have the best school system in the country and be the lowest in the country in funding," Shumway said at the time. "We can't be first if we're always last."

Popular Comments

As a parent whose children have graduate from high schools in Utah, East Coast,
West Coast, and DC metro, I can say with confidence that the claim that
"Utah's schools among world's most effective, efficient" is
bunk. It is no
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8:32 a.m. Nov. 20, 2013

Top comment

Fred44

Salt Lake City, Utah

The point of the article was efficiency. Many who post on here don't like
to talk about money, but money matters. It matters in your home, in your
business,and in education. When you don't have money you are limited in
what can be done.
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9:20 a.m. Nov. 20, 2013

Top comment

Orem Parent

Orem, UT

Yes we get an enormous bang for our buck. I want to personally thank the
teachers that my kids have had here in Utah. I have never seen a more dedicated
bunch of people than our local teachers. Thank you for your hard work and long
hours. They
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